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Netter Cleofe Santos bids Saipan adieu
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Posted on Feb 11 2022
Cleofe Santos, third from right, packed her bags yesterday and flew to Indiana where her new adventure awaits. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Longtime Saipan tennis player Cleofe Santos has left the island yesterday after making Saipan her home the past 33 years.
Santos, who worked for the garment industry when she first arrived on Saipan in 1989, said she’s moving to Indiana to work at a packaging company.
“I’m finally leaving Saipan to look for greener pastures,” said the Cebu, Philippines native.
Asked what she’ll miss most about Saipan, Santos said she will definitely pine for the simple island lifestyle with no semblance of crime or pollution.
On the tennis court, the 62-year-old said her most unforgettable game was in 2004 when she teamed up with Peter Loyola in the mixed doubles open of the 2nd Annual Taga Tennis Tournament against Kayo Ishi and Daniel Son.
While they ultimately lost in the finals, 0-6, 7-5, 6-4, the titanic struggle between the two determined teams still resonates with Santos.
In all, Santos won 67 singles and doubles titles in her over 30-year tennis career on Saipan.
Last Tuesday, Santos and her closest tennis buddies gathered for a farewell dinner of sorts at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. Of course, the impromptu picnic occurred after a few games of tennis.
Santos plans to return next year for vacation and even hinted of staying for good.
“I’ll be back if I’m not able to play my favorite sport of tennis there,” she said in Filipino.
While in the mainland U.S., Santos also vowed to go on a road trip.
“I wanna do that. At this age, my priority is no longer just to work but also to have fun and going on road trip fulfills that.”
